Lighter mechanism



p 1964 J. D. SMITH 3,150,507

LIGHTER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l .1. 5.3. Tu a 5 L v {i i /5 INVENTOR. I J IME; flo/v/uo 5mm BY /47TORAIEVS Sept. 29, 1964 J. D. SMITH 3,150,507

LIGHTER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR. 4 J4Ms flan/A111 5M/TH AITO/QA/EKS J. D. SMITH LIGHTER MECHANISM Sept. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 10, 1962 INVENTOJR. Java-s, AbA Azp S/V/7'H d/ml m flm Jkiwm,

United States Patent 3,150,507 LIGHTER MECHANISM James Donald Smith, Stroudsburg, Pa., assignor to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N .J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 222,436 14 Claims. (Cl. 67-7.1)

This invention relates to cigar or cigarette lighters fueled by combustible gases such as butane or propane and in one of its aspects relates more particularly to lighters of the above character in which the lighter is moved from its closed or inoperative position to an open or operative position in one motion. In another aspect it relates to lighters which are so constructed that at least part of the operating mechanism need not be composed of expensive, fire-resistant materials. The invention relates also to the mechanism by which the lighter is actuated.

In the past automatic lighters have been constructed to include a manually operated lid for preventing escape of fuel. Operation of the lighter required that the lid be opened to expose the operative parts. The sparking wheel was then rotated against the flint in a separate motion to produce sparks for the ignition of the lighter fluid. Subsequent lighters have done away with the lid and replaced it with a snufier member which normally covers the burner valve to prevent escape of fuel during non-operating periods. The snulfer is in operative relationship with the sparking wheel and with the finger piece. In these modern lighters pressure on the finger piece activates the sparking wheel and at the same time releases the snuifer to permit escape of fuel into the path of the sparks thus causing ignition.

Modern lighters including a snuffer are more satisfactory than the lid type lighter since they can be operated in one movement. Moreover, it has generally proved possible to produce lighters with less tendency for the fuel to escape because snuifers can be produced which fit very closely over the burner valve. However, the modern lighters, because of the intricate relationship of the working parts, are expensive to produce and quite prone to early failure, especially when subjected to the stresses of every day use.

This invention overcomes the difficulties of prior art devices by providing a lighter which does not require a lid, which can be operated in one motion, which does not require intricate working relationships between the parts and is therefore less expensive to produce and maintain and which moreover can be constructed of generally less expensive materials than has heretofore been thought possible. These and other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description given below to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate, by way of example, several embodiments of this invention. It should be understood that while the drawings show the lighter as part of a pen, the invention is not so restricted and can in fact be used with a number of other supports as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pen lighter embodying this invention showing one side of the pen barrel with some of the parts cut away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the pen barrel in which the same has been rotated 90 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the pen barrel in which the barrel has been rotated 180 from the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 except that the barrel has been rotated in a counterclockwise direction;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the pen clip removed to show the inner construction of the lighter;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the pen of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but shows the pen in the open or operative position;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the pen shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line 8-8 showing the operative parts in the closed position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but with the parts in the open position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but with the sparking Wheel and certain other parts removed;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the top plate;

FIG. 12 is a view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 6 and showing the parts in the closed position;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing the parts in the open position;

FIG. 14 is a view taken along the line 1414 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but showing another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 16 is another view similar to FIG. 12 showing still another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 17 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a pen lighter generally represented by the numeral 10. The pen is of the conventional type including a reciprocating writing member 11 here shown as the ball point variety. The pen includes upper barrel 12, a lower barrel 13 and a pen clip 14. A lighter of this invention is mounted in the upper barrel.

It will of course be understood that the use of a pen as a base for the lighter mechanism of this invention is illustrative only. It can be mounted on any suitable base, e.g. a candle, a cylinder, a ball, etc.

The lighter includes a rotatable top plate 15 mounting a sparking wheel 16 and a spring leaf snuffer 17. A burner valve generally represented by 18 communicates with a fuel reservoir 19 having a refill valve 20 of the conventional type. The upper barrel itself may of course serve as the fuel reservoir. The top plate is mounted on a body member generally represented by the numeral 21. The body member is somewhat cylindrical in shape and has a longitudinal extension 22 for mounting the pen clip 14. A portion of the cylinder has been cut away to leave an upstanding vertical wall 23 and a lower horizontal base 24. A transverse throughbore 25, extending through the longitudinal extension 22 and the vertical wall 23, communicates with the interior of the lighter and with the pen clip 14. This throughbore carries the pyrophoric material or flint 26. The position of the throughbore must be carefully selected as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The top plate 15 is rotatably mounted on the vertical wall 23 by the pivot pin 27 extending through an opening 28 in the top plate and into a cooperating opening 29 in the vertical wall 23. v

The pen clip 14 is slidably mounted in guideways 30 and 31 in the longitudinal extension 22. In its upper position the clip impinges against the outer arm 32 of a V-shaped spring generally represented by the numeral 33 constructed of spring steel or equivalent material and coiled about a pivot pin 34 mounted in a longitudinal slot 34a extending the length of the longitudinal extension, the top of said slot leading into the throughbore 25. The inner arm 35 of the spring 33 is formed with a loop 36 somewhat smaller in circumference than the throughbore 25 so that when the clip 14 is in its upper position, the loop 36 of the spring 33 is within the throughbore 25 and biased against the flint 26. It will be noted that this construction provides a very convenient arrangement for replacing the flint.

In the preferred embodiment shown, outer arm 32 is formed with a projection 32:: which aids in maintaining the pen clip 14 in position.

There is also present on the vertical wall 23 a projection 37 for positioning the sparking wheel 16 in a manner to be explained hereinafter.

The lower horizontal base 24 is constructed with an opening 38 in cooperative relationship with an opening 39 in the upper barrel 12 whereby the lighter assembly is aflixed to the upper barrel as by screw 40.

There is also an opening 41 for receiving the burner valve 18. The opening 41 is so placed that the burner valve, when mounted therein is adjacent the sparking wheel and in a substantially direct line with the sparks emitted by the action of the sparking wheel on the flint whereby the fuel escaping from the valve is ignited.

The upper surface 42 of the lower horizontal base 24 is constructed with a guideway 43 having an indent 44 for a purpose to be explained later. The lower surface 45 is constructed with a horizontal guideway 46 extending from the periphery of the body member 21 to the burner valve 18. The adjusting arm 47 of the burner valve extends through the guideway so that it is accessible from the outside to control the height of the flame.

Reference is now made in greater detail to the structure of the top plate and the component parts thereof, especially as these parts are shown in FIGS. 8-14. It will be seen that the top plate is rotatably mounted in the vertical wall 23 by means of the pivot pin 27. It is U-shaped in configuration and the dimensions of the upper leg of the U 48 are such that it forms the whole top surface of the lighter. The vertical section of the U 49 extends downwardly from the upper leg and the lower leg t extends from the lower edge of the vertical section to complete the U. A hollow cylindrical member 51, having a flanged lower section 52, extends upwardly through an opening 53 in the lower leg 50 in direct line with a cooperating opening in the spring leaf snuffer 17, the same having a similar relationship with an opening 54 in the sparking wheel. The opening 54 is somewhat larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the cylindrical member so that the sparking wheel is rotatable about the cylindrical member. The lower flange is of larger diameter than the opening 54 so that only the elongated section of the cylinder extends through the snuffer and the sparking wheel. The upper edge of the cylinder is in face-to-face relationship with the lower surface of the upper leg 48 and in cooperative alignment with an opening 55 extending therethrough. The diameter of the opening 55 is less than the diameter of the throughbore 56 of the cylinder. A screw 57 extends through the opening 55 into the throughbore 56 and is threadably mounted therein.

The screw 57 impinges on a coiled spring 58 which in turn is biased against a ball 59 constructed of steel or other material riding in the end of the throughbore 56 within the flanged lower section 52.

The diameter of the flange 52 is somewhat less than the cross-section of the guideway 43 and the top plate is so positioned that the flange rides within this guideway when the plate is rotated. In the closed position, the ball 55 is secured within the throughbore 56 between the spring 58 and the lower surface 60 of the guideway 43 as shown most clearly in FIG. 12. When the top plate is rotated to place the lighter mechanism in a position for lighting, flange 52 rides in the guideway 43 and the ball moves along the lower surface thereof until it reaches the indent 44 whereupon the action of the spring 58 causes the ball to move into the indent to lock the top plate in place. When force is applied on the top plate in the opposite direction, the ball is forced out of the indent and the flange and ball ride through the guideway until the top plate reaches the closed position for the lighter.

The burner valve 18 is of the conventional type including a fixed member 61 communicating with the fuel reservoir and a movable member 62 slidably mounted therein within the lower portion thereof positioned against a valve mechanism, including a resilient washer, so that when the movable member is in a depressed position no fuel escapes from the burner valve and when the movable member is in the raised position, fuel is emitted. An adjusting arm 47 is connected to the burner valve and controls the movement of the fixed and movable members so that predetermined amounts of fuel are delivered by the valve. In this invention the snuifer 17 is adapted to depress the movable member 62 to shut off the flow of fuel when the lighter is in the closed or inoperative position. The snuifer is mounted in the top plate so that when the same is rotated to the position for lighting, the movable member of the burner valve rises to the position of fuel emission.

An opening 63 is formed in the upper leg of the top plate and placed so that when the plate is rotated into the operative position, it is directly above the burner valve 18 as shown particularly in FIG. 13. It has been found that with this arrangement the flame is contained above the top plate so that no heat is generated within the area adjacent the burner valve. It is an important advantage of this invention that as a result of the flame being contained above the top plate, the body member and many of the parts therein can be constructed of nonheat resistant material such as plastic. This permits substantial savings to be realized in the manufacture of lighters within the scope of this invention.

The mode of operation of the lighters of this invention will now be described.

In the closed or inoperative position an edge of the flint is biased against the sparking wheel by the action of the spring 33. Only an edge rests against the sparking Wheel because the throughbore 25 carrying the flint is constructed at such an angle that the flint is forced into this relationship with the sparking wheel. The edge of the flint biased against the sparking wheel is off-center of the sparking wheel so that a tangential force component is applied thereto which is sufficient to lock the top plate in position to prevent accidental movement. It will be noted that in the closed position the snuffer keeps the movable member of the burner valve depressed so that no fuel can escape. There is thus provided a simple operating mechanism for safely preventing the escape of fuel from the burner without the use of the intricate snuifer means heretofore required. Instead of an expensive machined part, the snuffer is a simple spring leaf.

The sparking wheel, as shown, is accessible from the outside of the lighter when it is in the closed position. Application of hand pressure to the wheel in a direction parallel to its circumference opposes and overcomes the tangential force of the flint biased against the wheel and in one and the same motion rotates the top plate as guided by the guideway 43 until the ball 49 drops into the indent 44 locking the top plate in the open position. At the same time, the sparking wheel is moved to a position substantially perpendicular to the flint and the snuifer is disengaged from the movable member of the burner valve. Continued application of hand pressure will rotate the sparking wheel against the flint to produce sparks for ignition of the fuel. At the time when the top plate is locked into operative position, the opening 63 in the cover plate overlies the burner valve and, as aforesaid, the flame when produced is contained above the cover plate.

Return of the cover plate to the inoperative position extends through the snuffer and the sparking wheel.

is elfected by merely exerting suflicient pressure to overcome the force of the spring 58 holding the ball 59 in the indent 44. In the embodiment shown the top plate can be rotated until the sparking wheel strikes the projection 37, as shown particularly in FIG. 9, whereupon further rotation ceases. There are, of course, other possible positions for this stop, and other methods of stopping rotation.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 15 is similar to that illustrated in the other figures and similar parts of the separate embodiments will be identified by the same reference numeral with the addition of the subscript b. As illustrated, the embodiment of FIG. 15 comprises a lighter of this invention mounted in the upper barrel 12b of a pen b and includes a rotatable top plate mounting a sparking wheel 16b and a spring leaf snuffer 17b. A burner valve, generally represented by 18b, communicates with a fuel reservoir 19b. The burner valve mechanism is identical with the mechanism described in connection with the previously is U-shaped in configuration and the dimensions of the upper leg of the U 48b are such that it is equivalent to the top area of the lighter. The vertical leg of the U is not visible in the figure since it is behind the sparking wheel 16b but it extends downwardly from the upper leg. The lower leg 50b extends from the lower edge of the vertical leg to complete the U and the sparking wheel 16b and snulfer 17b are enclosed within the 'U.

A cylindrical member 51b having a flanged lower section 52b extends through an opening in the lower leg 50b in direct line with a cooperating opening in the spring leaf snuffer 17b, the same having a similar relationship with an opening 54b in the sparking wheel. The opening 54b is somewhat larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the cylinder member 51b. Hence the sparking wheel is rotatable about the cylinder. The

lower flange 52b is of larger diameter than the opening 54b so that only the elongated section of the cylinder The upper edge of the cylinder abuts the lower surface of the upper leg 48b and is in alignment with an opening 55b extending therethrough. The diameter of the openin-g 55b is less than the diameter of the cylinder 51b. A screw 57b extends through the opening 55b and is threadably mounted in a tapped hole 64 in the cylinder. When the screw is turned down, the various components of the top plate are secured in place.

In the previous embodiment, the cylinder 51b was completely hollow and mounted a coiled spring 58 biased against a ball 59 which rode in a guideway 43 on the upper surface 42 of the lower horizontal base 24. An indent 44 in the guideway served as a receiver for the ball when the lighter was in the operative position. In the instant embodiment the various parts are essentially reversed. Thus it will be seen that the spring 58b is mounted in the body member 21b and is biased against a ball 5% which in the open position of the lighter is received in an indent 65 in the lower surface 66 of the flange 52b. The flange rides in a guideway 67 on the upper surface 42b of the lower horizontal base 24b.

The operation of the lighter illustrated in FIG. is similar to the operation of the previously described lighter. In the closed or inoperative position the snnffer depresses the movable member of the burner valve so that no fuel escapes while the flint impinges tangentially against the flint wheel which is accessible from the outside of the lighter. Application of any force overcomes the tangential force so as to rotate the top plate 15b and move the flange 52b in the guideway 67 until the ball 5% is forced into the indent 65. At the same time, the sparking wheel is moved into operative relationship with the flint while the snulfer is disengaged from the burner valve.

In the open or operative position an opening in the top plate, not shown in the figure but similar to the opening 63 of the earlier described embodiment, overlies the burner valve. In this position continued application of hand pressure rotates the sparkling wheel against the flint to produce sparks and ignite the fuel. Again the fuel burns above the upper surface of the .top plate.

The other parts of the lighter shown in FIG. 15 are similar to corresponding parts illustrated in the earlier figures.

In FIG. 15 there is shown a decorative cap 68 which is afiixed to the top plate, for example, by an adhesive. It is, of course, not essential to the invention but eontributes to the overall appearance of the pen lighter.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate still another embodiment of this invention which is similar to the previous embodiments especially that illustrated in FIG. 15 except that the snulfer and burner valve are slightly altered. In describing these lighter parts, which are similar to corresponding parts of the previous lighters, they will be identified by the same reference numeral with the addition of the subscript c. As illustrated, the lighter of FIGS. 16 and 17 includes a top plate 156 rotatably mounted in the vertical wall 230 of a body member 210, the same being aflixed to the upper barrel of a pen 10c. The sparking wheel 160 is rotatably mounted in the U-shaped top plate between the upper leg 48c and the lower leg 590 on a cylinder 510 which is held in place by a screw 57c and includes a lower flanged section 52c having an indent 650 on its lower surface 660. The flange 52c rides in the .guideway 67c when the top plate is rotated and when the lighter is in the operative position receives in the indent 65c a ball which is biased by a spring in the body member 210. The ball and spring are not shown in the figures but are similar to the corresponding parts illustrated in FIG. 15. As mentioned above, the essential difference between the lighter of the last two figures and the lighter of the previous figures is the burner valve and snuffer arrangement. In this embodiment the burner valve is topped by a reciprocal cap 68 which covers the exit orifice and prevents escape of the fuel when the lighter is in the closed inoperative position. Two tined fork 69 embraces the cap in groove 70. The fork is mounted in the top plate under the sparking wheel in a manner identical to the mounting of the previously described snuifers so that rotation of the top plate moves the fork in the groove. The ends of the tines are elevated above the plane of the fork in an elongated S-shape so that as the higher sections of the tines 71 move into the groove 70 during the operation of the lighter, the cap 68 is elevated to permit the escape of fuel for lighting by rotation of the sparking wheel against the flint 26c. When the top plate is moved back into inoperative position, the higher parts of the tines 71 are moved out of the groove 70 and the reciprocating cap 68 returns to the position in which the burner valve is closed.

It is apparent that the embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17 operates similarly to the previously described lighters. In one motion the burner valve is opened, the sparking wheel is brought into operative alignment with the flint and the same is sparked to ignite the fuel. The movement of the ball urged by the spring into the indent 65c locks the lighter in the open operative position. Motion in the opposite direction overcomes the force locking the ball into the indent and moves the lighter into the closed or inoperative position where it is safely locked by the force of the flint biased tangentially against the sparking wheel.

All of the other parts not specifically mentioned in the description of the last described lighter embodying the concept of this invention are similar to corresponding parts in the previous descriptions.

It will be seen that What has been provided is a lighter which in the closed inoperative position is safe and readily transportable without danger of inadvertent sparking or escape of fuel. Moreover, the lighter of this invention may be lighted in one simple motion without the intricate and expensive interrelationship between snuffer, sparking wheel and finger piece heretofore required. Also, because of the unique construction of the lighter, the flame is so placed that it is not necessary to use heat resistant materials for every part of the lighter.

Many apparent variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, in the drawings the guideway and the indent for receiving the ball have been shown on the upper surface of the lower horizontal base and the spring and ball have been mounted within the sparking wheel in the top plate. It is entirely within the skill of the art to reverse the position of these various parts and to put the guideway and indent in the lower leg of the top plate while placing the spring and ball in the body member. Similarly, positions of other parts, for example, the adjusting arm of the burner valve, may be changed. The direction and rotation of the top plate from inoperative to operative position may be the opposite of the direction shown in the drawings and explained above. Of course, the operating mechanism of this invention need not be included in a pen although this embodiment has been described for purposes of explanation.

After study of this specification, various other modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains. Reference should accordingly be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas lighter comprising a fuel container for storing highly volatile fuels under pressure in liquefied form, a fuel burner including a passageway extending from within said container to a burner nozzle external thereto and further including a fuel flow control valve operative to control the flow of fuel through said passageway, a sparking wheel rotatable about an axle, means mounting said axle for transverse movement between first and second positions on said lighter, a flint element guided for movement on said lighter along a line which intersects both the periphery of said sparking wheel and said axle at said first position, said line also forming an angle with the path of movement of said axle, resilient means biasing said flint element toward said sparking wheel and means interconnecting said axle and said flow control valve in a manner causing opening of said valve by movement of said axle to said first position.

2. A gas lighter comprising a fuel container for storing highly volatile fuels under pressure in liquefied form, a fuel burner including a passageway extending from within said container to a burner nozzle extending from the top thereof and further including a fuel flow control valve operative to control the flow of fuel through said passageway, a frame member mounted for pivotal movement between first and second positions about an axis extending from the top of said lighter, a sparking wheel rotatable about an axle mounted on said frame parallel to but displaced from said axis, a flint element guided on said lighter for movement in the plane of movement of said sparking wheel and along a line which intersects said sparking wheel axle in the first position of said frame, said line being substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of said axle, resilient means biasing said flint element toward said sparking wheel and means interconnecting said axle and said flow control valve in a manner causing opening of said valve by movement of said axle to said first position.

3. The lighter described in claim 2 wherein said fuel flow control valve is closed by downward movement of said burner nozzle against an upwardly directed resilient force and said interconnecting means is a cam element connected to said frame, said cam element oriented to extend over and hold down said burner nozzle in the second position of said frame.

4. A lighter comprising a fuel container for storing highly volatile liquefied fuel under pressure, a fuel burner including a passageway through a wall of said container, said fuel burner further including within said passageway a fuel shut-off valve which is opened and closed by depression and elevation respectively of an element forming the mouth of said fuel burner, a frame member mounted to pivot about an axis parallel to the movement of said element, a cam extending from said frame member, said cam having a slanted surface arranged to engage slidably with said element to cause depression thereof when said frame member is pivoted to a first position and elevation thereof when said frame member is in a second position, a sparking Wheel mounted for rotation on said frame member about an axis spaced from its pivot point, a flint element resiliently biased to exert force upon said frame member via said sparking wheel, the direction of said force being essentially radial of said sparking wheel in the first position of said frame member and generally tangential of said sparking wheel in the second position of said frame member, a ball detent mechanism for securing said frame member in said first position, and a stop member on said fuel container arranged to be contacted by said frame member in its second position to oppose the rotational effect produced upon said frame member by the tangential application of force from said flint member to said sparking wheel.

5. A lighter comprising a pencil-shaped fuel container for maintaining highly volatile fuel under pressure in its liquid state, a fuel burner including a passageway through one end of said fuel container, said fuel burner further including within said passageway a fuel shut-off valve which is opened and closed by depression and elevation respectively of an element forming the mouth of said fuel burner, a frame member mounted on one end of said container to pivot about an axis parallel to the movement of said element, a cam extending from said frame member, said cam having a slanted surface arranged to engage slidably with said element to cause depression thereof when said frame member is pivoted to a first position and elevation thereof when said frame member is in a second position, a sparking wheel mounted for rotation on said frame member about an axis spaced from its pivot point, a flint element supported for movement along a fixed line on said one end of said fuel container, the direction of said line being substantially radial of said sparking wheel in the first position of said frame member and generally tangential of said sparking wheel in the second position of said frame member, resilient biasing means on said one end of said fuel container for forcing said flint member against said sparking wheel, a ball detent mechanism for securing said frame member in said first position, and a stop member on said fuel container arranged to be contacted by said frame member in its second position to oppose the rotational effect produced upon said frame member by the tangential application of force from said flint member to said sparking wheel.

6. The lighter described in claim 5 wherein said flint element and resilient biasing means are contained in a passageway within the wall of said fuel container at said one end, said passageway extending to the outer peripheral surface of said fuel container for access thereto, said lighter further including a removable pencil type clip which when attached covers said passageway to maintain said flint element and resilient biasing means under operative stressed condition.

7. A lighter comprising a pencil-shaped fuel container for maintaining highly volatile fuel under pressure in its liquid state, one end of said fuel container having a raised outer portion, a fuel burner including a passageway through the remaining portion of said one end of said fuel container, said fuel burner further including within said passageway a fuel shut-off valve which is opened and closed by depression and elevation respectively of an element forming the mouth of said fuel burner, a frame member mounted to pivot about a first axis extending outwardly from said raised portion, a cam extending from said frame member, said cam having a slanted surface arranged to engage slidably with said element to cause depression thereof when said frame member is pivoted to a first position and elevation thereof when said frame member is in a second position, a sparking wheel suspended from said frame member within the region adjacent the raised portion of said one end of said fuel container, said sparking wheel being mounted on said frame member for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said second axis being located to bring the sparking wheel closed to said fuel burner when said frame member is in its first position, a cover plate attached to said frame member to swing in its plane about said first axis with said frame member, said cover plate including an orifice located above said fuel burner in the first position of said frame member, a flint element resiliently biased to exert force upon said frame member via said sparking wheel, the direction of said force being essentially radial of said sparking wheel in the first postion of said frame member and generally tangential of said sparking wheel in the second position of said frame member.

8. The lighter described in claim 7 wherein said cam includes parallel projecting fingers which engage corresponding slots on either side of said element, said fingers being bent to slant with respect to the plane of rotation of said frame member thereby to cause depression and elevation of said element upon movement of said frame member to its first and second positions.

9. The lighter described in claim 7 wherein said element is resiliently maintained in its elevated condition and said cam comprises an arm extending from said frame member with an upwardly slanted outer tip which engages the upper surface of said element causing it to depress upon movement of said frame member to its second position, said cam thereby acting additionally as a s'nuffer element.

10. A lighter comprising a support portion in the form of a pen and including a fuel reservoir, a body member mounted on said support portion, said body member comprising a vertical Wall having a longitudinal extension on the outer periphery thereof and a lower horizontal base formed with a guideway therein having an upper surface and an indent at one end, a top plate rotatably mounted in said vertical wall section, said top plate being substantially U-shaped in configuration and comprising an upper leg, a vertical leg and a lower leg, the wall of said upper leg forming first and second openings therethrough, the said first opening overlying an opening formed by the wall of said lower leg, a projection on said vertical wall, a cylinder having a throughbore mounted in said last mentioned opening-s, a lower flanged portion on said hollow cylinder extending into said guideway and of greater diameter than the diameter of said overlying openings, a screw member threadably engaging the upper portion of said cylinder so that the same is locked in place by the opposing forces of the threaded screw and the flanged portion, the said screw being biased against a spring member within the throughbore of said cylinder, the spring member in turn biasing a ball between the lower extremity of said throughbore and the upper surface of said guideway, a sparking wheel rotatably mounted on said cylinder, a spring leaf mounted on said cylinder, guideways in said longitudinal extension, a pen clip slidably mounted in said guideways, a throughbore in said vertical wall communicating with the periphery of the sparking wheel and with the inside surface of said pen clip and having a flint member therein, a longitudinal slot extending the length of said longitudinal' extension with the top portion thereof integral with the said throughbore, a pivot pin mounted in said longitudinal slot, a V-shaped spring coiled about said pivot pin and biased between said pen clip and said flint member in said throughbore whereby said flint member is biased against the periphery of said sparking wheel, a burner valve mounted in said lower horizontal base substantially adjacent said sparking wheel and communicating with the fuel reservoir, the top plate being rotatable along the path of said guideway from a first inoperative position in which the sparking wheel is in engagement with the projection on the vertical wall, the flint engages the periphery of the sparking wheel at a position such that its line of force passes slightly off center thereof so that suflicient tangential force is applied thereto to hold the same and the top plate in which it is mounted in the first position and the spring leaf engages the top of the burner valve to prevent escape of fuel therefrom to a second operative position in which the flint is directed radially of the sparking wheel at the periphery thereof, the spring leaf is disengaged from the burner valve, the ball is biased into the indent and the second opening in the upper leg of the top plate overlies the burner valve in which position the application of force to the sparking wheel will rotate the same against the flint to produce sparks for the ignition of fuel escaping from the burner valve.

11. A lighter comprising a support portion including a fuel reservoir, a body member mounted in said support portion comprising a vertical wall and a lower horizontal base formed with a guideway therein having an upper surface with an indent at one end, a top plate movably mounted on said body member being substantially U- shaped in configuration and comprising an upper leg, a vertical leg and a lower leg, the wall of said upper leg forming first and second openings therethrough, the first opening overlying an opening formed by the walls of the lower leg, a cylinder mounted between said last mentioned openings and extending into the said guideway, biasing means within the cylinder biasing a ball between the lower extremity of said cylinder and the upper surface of said guideway, a sparking wheel rotatably mounted on said top plate, a spring leaf mounted on said top plate, a throughbore in said vertical wall communicating with the periphery of the sparking wheel, flint means within the said throughbore biased against the periphery of said sparking wheel, a burner valve mounted in said lower horizontal base substantially adjacent said sparking wheel and communicating with the fuel reservoir, the top plate being movable along the path of said guideway from a first inoperative position in which the flint means engage the periphery of the sparking wheel at a position such that its line of force passes slightly off center thereof so that sufficient tangential force is applied thereto to hold the same and the top plate in which it is mounted in the first position and the spring leaf engages the top of the burner valve to prevent escape of fuel therefrom to a second operative position in which the flint means are directed radially against the sparking wheel at the periphery thereof, the spring leaf is disengaged from the burner valve, the ball is biased into the indent and the second opening in the upper leg of the top plate overlies the burner valve in which position the application of force to the sparking wheel will rotate the same against the flint means to produce sparks for the ignition of fuel escaping from the burner valve.

12. A lighter comprising a support portion including a fuel reservoir, a body member mounted in said support portion and comprising a vertical wall and a lower horizontal base formed with a guideway therein, a top plate movably mounted on said body member being substantially U-shaped in configuration and comprising an upper leg, a vertical leg and a lower leg, the wall of said upper leg forming first and second openings therethrough, the first opening overlying an opening formed by the wall of the lower leg, a cylinder mounted between said last mentioned openings extending into said guideway and having an indent on the lower end thereof, biasing means in said lower horizontal base at an end of said guideway biasing a ball against said lower leg, a sparking wheel rotatably mounted on said top plate, a spring leaf mounted on said top plate, a throughbore in said vertical wall communicating with the periphery of said sparking wheel, flint means within said throughbore biased against the periphery of said sparking wheel, a burner valve in the lower horizontal base substantially adjacent said sparking wheel and communicating with said reservoir, the top plate being movable along the path of said guideway from a first inoperative position in which the fiint means engage the periphery of the sparking wheel at a position such that its line of force is directed slightly off center thereof so that sufficient tangential force is applied thereto to hold the same and the top plate in which it is mounted in the first position and the spring leaf engages the top of the burner valve to prevent escape of fuel therefrom to a second operative position in which the flint means are directed radially against the sparking wheel at the periphery thereof, the spring leaf is disengaged from the burner valve, the ball is biased into the indent and the second opening in the upper leg of the top plate overlies the burner valve in which position the application of force to the sparking wheel will rotate the same against the flint means to produce sparks for the ignition of fuel escaping from the burner valve.

13. A lighter comprising a support portion including a fuel reservoir, 21 body member mounted in said support portion and comprising a vertical wall and a lower horizontal base, the same being formed with a guideway therein, a top plate movably mounted on said body memher being substantially U-shaped in configuration and comprising an upper leg, a vertical leg and a lower leg, the wall of said upper leg forming first and second openings therethrough, the first opening overlying an opening formed by the wall of the lower leg, a cylinder mounted between said last mentioned openings extending into the said guideway and having an indent at the lower end thereof, biasing means in said lower horizontal base at an end of said guideway biasing a ball against said lower leg, a sparking Wheel rotatably mounted on said top plate, a throughbore in said vertical wall communicating with the periphery of said sparking wheel, flint means within said throughbore biased against the periphery of said sparking wheel, a burner valve in said lower horizontal base substantially adjacent said sparking wheel and communicating with said fuel reservoir, said burner valve including a reciprocal cap which in the upper position permits and in the lower position prevents escape of fuel from said burner valve, said cap being formed with a groove, 21 two tined fork mounted in said top plate, embracing said cap and riding in said groove, an end of the tines being slightly elevated with respect to the balance thereof whereby movement of the tines in the groove alternately raises and lowers the said reciprocal cap, the top plate being movable along the path of said guideway from a first inoperative position in which the line of force exerted by said flint means passes slightly off center of said sparking wheel so that sufiicient tangential force is applied thereto to hold the same and the top plate in which it is mounted in the first position and the reciprocal cap is in its lower position to a second operative position in which the line of action of flint means is directed radially of the sparking wheel at the periphery thereof, the reciprocal cap is in its upper position, the ball is biased into the indent and the second opening in the upper leg of the top plate overlies the burner valve in which position the application of force to the sparking wheel will rotate the same against the flint to produce sparks for the ignition of fuel escaping from the burner valve.

14. A lighter comprising a support portion in the form of a pen including a fuel reservoir, 21 body member mounted on said support portion, said body member comprising a vertical wall having a longitudinal extension on the outer periphery thereof and a lower horizontal base formed with a guideway therein, a top plate rotatably mounted in said vertical wall section, said top plate being substantially U-shaped in configuration and comprising an upper leg, a vertical leg and a lower leg, the wall of said upper leg forming first and second openings therethrough, the said first opening overlying an opening formed by the wall of said lower leg, a cylinder mounted in said last mentioned openings, a lower flanged portion on said cylinder extending into said guideway and having an indent on the lower end thereof and of greater diameter than the diameter of the said overlying openings, a screw member threadably engaging the upper portion of said cylinder so that the same is locked in place by the opposing forces of the threaded screw and the flange portion, a spring member in said lower horizontal base at an end of said guideway, a ball mounted on the upper end of said spring and biased against said lower leg, a sparking wheel rotatably mounted on said cylinder, guideways in said longitudinal extension, a pen clip slidably mounted in said guideways, a throughbore in said vertical wall communicating with the periphery of the sparking wheel and with the inside surface of said pen clip and haivng a flint member therein, a longitudinal slot extending the length of said longitudinal extension with the top portion thereof integral with the said throughbore, a pivot pin mounted in said longitudinal slot, a V-shaped spring coiled about said pivot pin and biased between said pen clip and said flint member in said throughbore whereby the flint member is biased against the periphery of said sparking wheel, a burner valve mounted in said lower horizontal base substantially adjacent said sparking wheel and communicating with the fuel reservoir, said burner valve including a reciprocal cap which in the upper position permits and in the lower position prevents escape of fuel from said burner valve, said cap being formed with a groove, a two tined fork mounted in said top plate, the said tines embracing the said cap and riding in the said groove, the extremities of said tines being slightly elevated with respect to the balance thereof whereby movement of the tines in the grooves alternately raises and lowers the said reciprocal cap, the top plate being rotatable along the path of said guideway from a first inoperative position in which the flint engages the periphery of the sparking wheel at a position such that the line of ,force exerted by said flint means is slightly off center of said sparking wheel so that sufficient tangential force is applied thereto to hold the same and the top plate to which it is attached in the first position and the reciprocal cap is in the lower position to a second operative position in which the line of force of the flint is directed radially to the sparking wheel at the periphery thereof, the reciprocal cap is in its upper position, the ball is biased into the indent and the second opening in the upper leg of the top plate overlies the burner valve in which position the application of force to the sparking wheel will rotate the same against the flint to produce sparks for the ignition of fuel escaping from the burner valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,724 Liss Aug. 11, 1931 1,819,319 Bell et al Aug. 18, 1931 2,499,547 Waggoner Mar. 7, 1950 2,553,678 Rubin May 22, 1951 2,577,122 Harris et al Dec. 4, 1951 2,724,253 Morgan Nov. 22, 1955 2,948,134 Quercia Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,194 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1949 1,152,021 France Aug. 20, 1957 

1. A GAS LIGHTER COMPRISING A FUEL CONTAINER FOR STORING HIGHLY VOLATIEL FUELS UNDER PRESSURE IN LIQUEFIELD FORM, A FUEL BURNER INCLUDING A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING FROM WITHIN SAID CONTAINER TO A BURNER NOZZLE EXTERNAL THERETO AND FURTHER INCLUDING A FUEL FLOW CONTROL VALVE OPERATIVE TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FUEL THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY, A SPARKING WHEEL ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXLE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID AXLE FOR TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS ON SAID LIGHTER, A FLINT ELEMENT GUIDED FOR MOVEMENT ON SAID LIGHTER ALONG A LINE WHICH INTERSECTS BOTH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SPARKING WHEEL AND SAID AXLE AT SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID LINE ALSO FORMING AN ANGLE WITH THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID AXLE, RESILIENT MEANS BIASING SAID FLINT ELEMENT TOWARD SAID SPARKING WHEEL AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID AXLE AND SAID FLOW CONTROL VALVE IN A MANNER CAUSING OPENING OF SAID VALVE BY MOVEMENT OF SAID AXLE OF SAID FIRST POSTION. 